Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24,238, Reuben Freeman, Mass.

SERVICE
Mass.
Y Freeman Reuben Bethiah
NUMBER
W. 24,238
CONTENTS

Maine - 3890.
Rept June 10
Bethia Freeman deceased, who died 24 th : June 1842 widow of Reuben Freeman -
who died on the 4 th : January 1815 - of Houlton C.C. in the State of Maine who was a private in the company - commanded by Captain Rogers - of the Regt: commanded by Col: Wigglesworth in the Massachusetts line for Ticonderoga -
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine - at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4 th day of March, 1831. & ended the 24 th : June 1842, day of her death
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 th : day of - June 1843 and sent to G.W. Morton Augusta, Maine
Arrears to the 4 th of Semi-annual allowance ending
$904.44
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act July 4, 1836, Section the 3 d - }
Recorded by H. H. Strout Clerk, Book C Vol. 3 - Page 6 -

Beliah Freeman
5.531
Me.
abt 7. July 3 5
m 76 d 15
Goatswood Augusta Maine

JOHN FAIRFIELD, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF MAINE.
TO ALL WHO SHALL SEE THESE PRESENTS,
GREETING.
Ye, That Wm Redington , whose signature is hereunto upon the paper herunto annexed, is sole Judge of the District Court, for the Middle District in the State of Maine, that he is also a Justice of the Peace & Quorum throughout the State; that Charles C. Emerson of Bethel in the County of Berks , and William C. Crow of Vassalborough in the County of Penobscot , whose signatures are also hereunto upon the certificates herunto annexed, were at the times when said certificates bear date, Justices of the Peace within and for the Counties in which they severally reside; (that the signatures purporting to be theirs are genuine) duly nominated and appointed, commissioned and qualified; and that to their Acts and Attestations, as such, full faith and credit are and ought to be given in and out of Court.
In testimony whereof, I have caused the Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed. Given under my hand at AUGUSTA, this twenty sixth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two and in the sixty- sixth year of the Independence of the United States of America.
BY THE GOVERNOR.
Philip C. Hudson ,
Secretary of State.
John Fairfield

Declaration. In order to obtain the benefit of the third section of the Act of Congress of the 4th July 1836.
State of Ohio.
vs. the County S.S. On this nineteenth day of Oct 1841 personally appeared before me, judge of the Court of Common Pleas, concerning the Court of Common Pleas, Franklin County Ohio. I, Patricia Freeman a resident of Chillicothe in the County of Franklin in the State of Ohio, aged eighty two years, who being first duly sworn according to law, do hereby make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the Act of Congress passed July 4th 1836. That she is the widow of Nathan Freeman who she has reason to believe and was believed by all the world of this place as a private soldier in the year 1777 into the service of the Rebel Arm that he served part of the time in Smith's and afterwards in the 2nd Regiment of the Maryland Line. She believes in part of the time he was in Capt. Roger's Company of Maryland Line. That he later died as she was at the time of his death a widow of 80 years of age. She further states that she is the only person of her kindred. She further states that she was married to the said Nathan Freeman on the not recorded day of June or July in the year 1776. She has been her sole security since.

the aforesaid Reuben Freeman died on the fourth day of January A.D. 1815. and that she has remained a widow ever since that time to the present time & all of her by reason of the said Reuben Freeman deceased
Bethiah \ Freeman marks
State of Maine -
Being requested to visit the above named Bethiah Freeman at her residence, I found her quite infirm and, through great decrepitude of age, altogether unable to attend in open court - She was carefully inquired of, and made oath before me to the truth of the foregoing certificate. But it is proper for me to state that her memory on several particulars was much im- paired. The only two points in her declaration on which I could with confidence rely, are that she is the widow of said Reuben Freeman and that he was a soldier in the revolutionary war. She seemed to be a very conscien- tious woman; and I was, from her statements, fully satisfied of her truth on these two points.
I also inquired of some aged neighbors, and found their views to be fully in accordance with mine.
Abt Huntington.

I Phineas Weeks of Hopkinton in the County of Middlesex and State of Maine now eighty years of age do hereby certify that in the year 1781 I became acquainted with the family of Robert Freeman who had been many years or more prior to that time as I then understood I afterwards married a sister to said Freeman wife as then she had been reported to have been a resident in the Revolution. I have heard him talk of his service in the Army but do not remember the name of his officers if I ever knew him more than after his return home he continued to live with his wife until his death which was about the year 1815 since which time his wife under Robert Freeman has remained unmarried - that it was generally understood in the neighborhood and believed that the said Freeman had been a resident in the Revolution.  Phineas Weeks
State of Maine October 19 1842.
The above named Phineas Weeks made oath to the truth of the foregoing certificate before me. I consider him an intelligent and upright man, and his statements are to the best of my belief and it.
J. H. [unclear], Sec'y of State, for the State.

Intention of marriage between Reuben Freeman and Bethiah Sands, both of Wapsilboro, Ender, and published June tenth one thousand seven hundred & seventy six
I hereby certify the above to be a true copy of Record Obed Durrell } Town Clerk of Wapsilborough
Wapsilboro Oct. 22 At eighteen hundred forty one
Humble SS Oct 22-1841
Personally appeared the above named Obed Durrell and made oath that he is duly qualified as Town Clerk of the Town of Wapsilboro for the Current Year Wm C Dow Justice of the Peace

I Daniel Bridges of York, in the County of York, & State of Maine, Pensioner, of seventy nine years of age, testify, depose, & say, that when I was a very small boy I was acquainted, with a boy by the name of Stephen Freeman, we then lived in said York & were near Neighbour, until about the time of the Revolutionary War, between Great Britain & the United States: We both enlisted as Privates in the United States Army, & enlisted during the War, & said Freeman for three years, in Col. Wigglesworth's Regiment. said Freeman enlisted at Yarmouth (Yarmouth) as he told me. said Freeman served out his full time of three years, in said Regiment, to my certain knowledge, as I was on terms of familiar intimacy with him, during said term of time. Said Freeman immediately proceeding the War, moved to the town of Vassalboro' in said State of Maine, & was then married, as he often told me, when we were in the Army: after the War, I went to said Vassalboro', & then saw said Freeman in his family, consisting of his Wife & one, or two children.
York January. 12. 1842. Daniel his X Bridges mark.

State of Maine } York County } ss
January 12. 1842. Then personally appeared Daniel Bridges & made oath to the truth of the above Deposition, by him subscribed.
Before me Ch. O. Emerson Justice of the Peace
I hereby certify that, in my opinion, said Daniel Bridges, is a man of truth, and veracity.
January 12. 1842.
Ch. O. Emerson.

State of Maine.
Kennebec County, ss.
Be it known that on the twenty seventh day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty three, it has been satisfactorily proved in open Court, before the Court of Probate for said County of Kennebec, being a Court of record, that Reuben Freeman (a reputed soldier of the Revolution), soldier late of Vassalborough in said County of Kennebec died in said Town, on the fourth day of January A.D. 1815, that his widow Bethiah Freeman lived ever after his death unmarried until her deceased, that she died said Town of Vassalborough on the twenty fourth day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty two, and that Reuben Freeman, Phebe Holmes, and Jane Dearborn are the only surviving children of the said Bethiah Freeman deceased.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed the seal of said Court, and subscribed my name, this twenty seventh day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty three.
Francis Davis - Register of Probate Kennebec County Maine

Reg
WIDOW, &c.
Gen
File No. 24238
Bethia Freeman
Wid. of
Eleazar Freeman
Phil Rev war
Act July 4 th 1886.
Index : Vol A , Page 2551
[Arrangement of 1870.]

(5531)
Let to G. W. Morton March 11. '42 same " 25. '42 " Feb 28 th 1843.
Act 4 July. 1836

I Daniel Bridges of York in the County of York and State of Maine, aged Seventy four years, depose and say, that I was born in said York and went as apprentice to live to the Town of Wolfsborough in the State of New Hampshire when a boy, and there enlisted as a soldier in the war of the Revolution, for during the war in the New Hampshire line, and served about six years in the said Army and to the close of it. When a boy and while I lived in said York, I was acquainted with Reuben Freeman who was a near neighbour to me, While I was in the service of the United States and Stationed in Fish Kill in the State of New York I saw the said Reuben Freeman, who had enlisted for the term of three years in the Massachusetts line, I think in Col o Henry Jackson's Regiment in General Patterson's Brigade. As we had been acquainted with each other in our childhood, we very frequently associated together, while in the Army and off duty.
According to the best of my recollection it was about the year 1778 when I first saw him in the Army, and I frequently saw him afterwards, and till his term of service ended which I think was in the year 1780 or thereabouts. I know that he was in the three years service and served as a soldier, to the end of his enlistment. I recollect of having seen the said Reuben Freeman after the close of the war at said York, — He went from York to some place on the Kennebec soon after the close of the war, where he settled and afterwards lived. Daniel his Bridges mark

witness to the signature of Daniel Bridges Alex. W. Intire William White
State of Maine York County SS. February 25. th 1841 Then personally appeared Daniel Bridges within named who I hereby certify is a Revolutionary Pensioner and a man of truth and veracity, and made oath to the truth of the within deposition by him subscribed. Before me Alex. W. Intire Justice of the Peace

Dec 30. 1842 Wassalborough (Me.) Dec 26. } free
Hon. Me James L. Edwards-
Commissioner of Pensions Washington City D.C.

Dear Sir. Having been employed for some time past in assisting to obtain pension for one Reuben Freeman of Valparaiso.
I thought that it might not be improper for me to state to you the result I have come to by a thorough investigation of his claim. I understand from Mr. Morton that your honor is not fully satisfied that the same Reuben Freeman that married Bethiah Sans was the man that done the service in the war of the revolution. on that point I can only say that there is not one doubt in the minds of any person in the vicinity where Freeman or his wife was ever known but what the same Freeman that done the service married Mathiah Sans.
There cannot be one doubt about it.
No doubt attempts are often made to impose upon Government by personating unjust claims for pension but this is not one of them.
The claim is just & it looks extremely hard that the claim should be rejected on so trifling a point about which there is no doubt & all are satisfied -

Inverness While living was called one of the first rate men & his character for truth was undoubted - Mr. Norton will soon see you - Affidavit which I sincerely hope will be conclusive about the identity. Bethiah Lane Died a short time ago & the children to whom she willed her right of Pension are extremely poor & need you to satisfy you whether or not I want misspelling anything to you launching the pensions I would refer you to the Delegation in Congress from Maine to wit. Messrs Williams, Evans & Marshall all who know me well - If you find it necessary to reply please direct to East Vespapboro Maine at which place I practice law
With the light surmise of Esteem - I am your humble Servt. Secy
Henry L. Edwards. Dec 26. 1842-
Joseph Bauman

I Eleanor the Dickey of Munroe in the County of Wales & State of Illaine of right I have seven of age make Affidavit That I was well acquainted with Richard the of Vespalthana formerly of the park the knew him while in the service of the united States Service in the war of the rebellion at the he belonged to Col. H. Patterson the - part of Col Wiggleman's regiment I further know that the same Richard the  the in the Service married the  the  the of Vespalthana I was well acquainted with her before & after the marriage & was often at the house of her they were married I never knew any other Richard the - the Service the  the  the in London, the - the  the until I was fourteen years of age. Eleanor Dickey
W. A. C. Co. S. Dec. 12. 1842 Then the above named Linking appeared & made oath that the above Affiant by him subscribed is true before me Benjamin Gersting justice of the peace
This was written by that the above named Elizer Nicholson a man of sober life & conversation & entitled to full credit for truth & veracity.

State of Maine
Kennebec ss. I the undersigned Clerk of the Judicial Court, held within & for the county of Kennebec do certify that Bangor. Curtis Jr is a Justice of the Peace within & for the county of Waldo, duly commissioned & qualified and acting as such -
Witness my hand & the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court this twenty sixth day of December A. D. 1842
A. R. Nichols Clerk

I Jonathan Burgess of Vespahana & State of Maine, eighty two years of age a revolutionary Pensioner, testify & say that in the year seventeen hundred & eighty five I moved into Vespahana & there became acquainted with one Ruben Fremont who has been dead many years and becoming acquainted with him I found that he was a soldier of the revolution he always told me that he was from New York & served in Col. Wigglesworth's Reg.
As far as I know to my knowledge of his having been a soldier of the revolution his character for truth was good & I know that he married one Bethiah Sons of Vespahana who survived him many years - there can be no doubt but what she served for a long time in the Mass. line in S c war
I am satisfied beyond one doubt from all the information that I can get that the same Ruben Fremont which married Bethiah Sons was several years in the service of war aforesaid. Jonathan Burgess
November 18 Dec. 24. 1882 then personally appeared the above named Jonathan Burgess made oath that the above affidavit by him signed is true before me Joseph Bauman Justice of the peace

Dec 24 1842 This may certify that the within named J. Burgess is a Gentleman of sober life & conversation & entitled to full credit for truth & veracity Joseph Bowman Justice of the Peace
Kennebec ss - I the undersigned Clerk of the Judicial Courts for said County of Kennebec do certify that Joseph Bowman is a Justice of the Peace within & for said County, duly commissioned & qualified, and that the foregoing signa- tures purporting to be his, are the genuine signatures of him the said Joseph Bowman Witness my hand & the seal of the Supreme Judicial Court this twenty sixth day of December A.D. 1842
J. R. Nichols Clerk

Pension Office July 27. 1841
Sir,
In reply to your enquiry whether Reuben Freeman who served in Wigglesworth's regiment of the Massachusetts line was honorably discharged, I have the honor to state, that the name of Reuben Freeman appears upon Col. Wigglesworth's roll as a three years man, and that there is nothing from which it appears that he was not honorably discharged. Should a claim be presented at this Office growing out of this service, it will be proper that the place of residence and the name of the town for which he was engaged be stated.
I have the honor to be
Very respectfully
Your Obt. Servt.
J L Edwards
Hon. George Evans Senate U. States

Augusta Maine
Dec 26 th 1842
Sir
In support of the claim of the late Bethiah Freeman for a pension under the act of July 4. 1836, whose papers are on file in your office, I enclose with this the affidavits of Eleazer Dickey and Jonathan Burgess, they were handed me by Joseph Burrough Esq who resides in the neighborhood where Mrs Freeman lived and died and when of absence he informed me her surviving children wishes to establish the claim. Should the affidavits be deemed sufficient and satisfactory to you I would respectfully request you to send me a certificate. Mrs Freeman has her debt four weeks, but it is supposed should the claim be allowed, the pension due can be obtained by her surviving children, by their presenting such vouchers as are required in cases of deceased pensioners.
Very respectfully
Your Obed Servt
Geo. W. Morton
James L Edwards Esq Commr of Pension Washington City D.C.

Augusta, March 19. 1842.
Sir:
I have rec d your letter of 11 th inst. relating to the case of Mrs. Bethiah Freeman, the widow of Reuben Freeman, who claims a pension under Act of July 4. 1836. A letter addressed by you to the Hon. Geo. Evans, dated July 27. 1841, who had made enquiry relating to the service of Reuben Freeman, the letter is enclosed, which will perhaps explain the marks made against his name on the roll, the enquiry was made by Mr. Evans, I presume by the request of some person living in the neighborhood, or some one of her family in her behalf, this letter was handed me by a neighbor of hers. It was believed that he served in the Mass ts from the first three years. I understand that the enquiry was made in order to obtain information as to the time of his enlistment, for if he enlisted for during the war, he could not have served his term fully out, but if he enlisted for three years he probably did, as he was absent from his family sufficient time to have done so, he returned to his family before the close of the war. The facts in the case are without doubt as follows. Freeman was a native of the town of York, a short time before his enlistment into the service, he went to Halloway, where he married Bethiah Sands, and they had one or two children before he left, being unable to support his family he left them and went back to York, from there to Massachusetts when he enlisted. After he left the service he returned to his family and continued to live with them till his death. Bridges affidavit where affidavit was

was obtained by a man sent from Washington to York for the purpose, and was intended to be understood as serving in the same line with him. Another affidavit of his sworn to before Alex. McIntire Esq. formerly a member of Congress. herewith enclosed will show. This affidavit was not sent with her papers because the one accompanying them appeared to be more full as to the relation of husband and wife before the enlistment of Freeman in many respects, this one is more particular as to his own service which was considered of no importance in her case. Mrs. Freeman's friends called on me to assist her soon after the passage of the Act, but as I understood her memory was much impaired, and that she could not recollect the names of any of the Officers under whom she served, my attention to her case was delayed, and afterwards from inquiry it was ascertained that evidence could probably be obtained at York, efforts were made to do it which resulted in getting the affidavits of Mr. Bridger. This case has been made in good faith with a full belief that the principal statements are correct, and it was believed that the testimony would be deemed sufficient to establish the identity of her late husband with the person who served in Wigglesworth's when name was regt and fared on the rolls.
Very respectfully
Your Obt Servt
Geo. W. Morton
James L. Edwards Esq. Committee of Pensions Washington City

N.B. At the time Mr Bendige's previous affidavit was obtained Mr McIntire who acted as the Magistrate in taking the first one was absent from home, in consequence of which another Magistrate was employed.
Very Respectfully
G. W. Norton
--

Augusta, Maine
April 14. 1843
Sir
Your letter of 27 th Feby last, relating to the case of the late Betheah Freeman for a pension under Act of July 4. 1836 was received, and I herewith enclose a certificate of the Register of the Court of Probate for Kennebec County, Maine, in support of the case.
Very respectfully
Your Obedt Servt
Geo. W. Morton
James L Edwards Esq Committee of Pensions Washington City D.C.

5577
Petheah Freeman
Wid of Reuben
Me
At July 4 1834
m 76. d 15
adm'd -
2 yrs pri
8077
from March 31. to 24 June '42 to Reuben Freeman Phebe Holmes Jane Dearborn only sur. viving children
Gerrit Morton Augusta Me

Augusta Maine Jan 27, 1842
Sir
I send you the papers of Mrs. Bathsheba Freeman, widow of Reuben Freeman who was a soldier in the Army of the Revolution, having served three years in the draft line. If satisfactory to you send decree sufficient to establish her claim, I would respectfully request you to allow her claim, and transmit me, for her, such a certificate as is usually issued in similar cases.
Very respectfully Yours on Sent G. H. Merrill
James L. Edwards Esq. Committee of Pensions Washington City D.C.

20 June 77 3rd July 80 Cal 111 46 1/2 1880 no
England 13th July 80 111 46 50 1/2 1880 no
a Great Falls 17th July 80 111 46 50 1/2 1880 no
No other of the names as 17th July 80 111 46 50 1/2 1880 no
any Regt 111 46 50 1/2 1880 no
John Freeman York 111 46 50 1/2 1880 no
24th July 80
But for which Evans
may still be
Freeman not on
Pa 43 1/2 84
J. L. Edwards Esq
Conner & -
Pension Office
July 27 1880
July 26. 1881
me.
Geo Evans

Senate Ch.
July 24. 1841
J. L. Edwards Esq
Concord
Sir,
I wish to ascertain
whether Reuben Freeman who served in Wigglesworth's reg t , Massachusetts Line, in the Revolution was honorably discharged. Will
You have the goodness to cause the rolls to be examined, & the information given?
Very Resp ly
Your obed t Serv t
Geo Evans
[Faint bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page] Salem Co Massachusetts 20 Dec 177 for
[Faint bleed-through text from the reverse side of the page] Vol II p 46 "Reuben Freeman" joined "Gilmore's" to Springfield Parker Co Aug 10 1775 → Reuben Freeman - p 26

20 Mar 71 3rd Supt of Co. ... 114 46 ...
August 13 1872
a - Genl R.R.
No other of the names as
any Ref. ...
John Freeman York N.Y. 1831
21 3/4 36 1/2
But from York County Hn. Geo. ...
May 1877 ...
Freeman ...
Pa 43 3/4 84
J. L. Edwards Esq
Conner & ...
Pension Office
July 27 1877
July 26. 1871
me.
Geo Evans

Cap. Supt. C. W. Clegg M.H. 11/2/56 Ruben Newman Feb. 1779
177 25  11 46
Jan. 24 1901/2 Capt. L. B. Cook, Dept. Co. Motor Cavalry Battery 1st Bn.

Ruben Freeman d 1815
Deborah Freeman m 1765
77 3/4 Col on the  (10)
remains
1777 3/4
Farmers Co
Messrs. Smith & Ryf
Copy
of York Me Farmers Co
Cap M c Nally Co Me
Vol 11 p 46 Ruben Freeman
56 Deborah Freeman
Entered at District Mass - Essex Co
See Vol 41 p 94